Mr Paeniu made these comments while visiting the SV Rainbow
Warrior, the first Greenpeace vessel to ever visit Tuvalu,
yesterday (Monday July 21st).

Tuvalu experienced a freak cyclone last month which devastated
an outer island. A string of coral atolls no more than two
metres above sea-level, Tuvalu could be annihilated by the sea-
level rise which scientists predict will occur if nothing is
done to slow global warming. Greenpeace campaigner Stephanie
Mills, on board the Rainbow Warrior, said it was time for the
developed countries, who were predominantly responsible for
burning the fossil fuels that contribute to global warming, to
listen to the voice of Tuvalu.

Greenpeace has been highly critical of Australia and New
Zealand's position on climate change. In spite of rhetorical
commitments to take action to reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions, Australia has recently said it will only agree to an
international convention limiting climate change if Australia
is allowed to INCREASE its emissions. New Zealand has refused
to commit to any target for emissions reductions and is
currently increasing its carbon dioxide emissions.

"It is shameful that countries like Australia and New Zealand,
which claim to be part of the South Pacific, take no
responsibility to reduce their impact on the climate when their
own neighbours are at risk," she said. "Australia is lobbying
to be declared a special case because of its heavy dependence on
the coal industry. But it is Tuvalu, Kiribati and other low-
lying coral atolls that should receive the special attention of
the rest of the international community, because while
contributing little to the climate problem, they are the first
to suffer."

Mr Paeniu also discussed the issue of shipments of high-level
nuclear waste and plutonium through the Pacific with Greenpeace
representatives. Several shipments of nuclear waste from Japan
to France are expected to transit the Pacific every year over
the next decade. Greenpeace is campaigning for a regional ban on
the shipments and for an end to the international plutonium
trade.

The Rainbow Warrior was visiting Tuvalu as part of a Pacific-wide
education and information tour against nuclear waste
shipments and for environmental protection. It will next call
at Honiara in the Solomon Islands (July 29th), then Papua New
Guinea, Fiji and the Cook Islands.